| Contact Design Builders |
650 Danbury Road
Ridgefield CT, 06877
203-431-9104
www.DBARINC.com
davida@dbarinc.com
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| About Design Builders |
Design Builders & Remodeling is a full-service, residential design build firm headquartered in Ridgefield, CT. The firm has proudly serviced discriminating buyers in Fairfield, Westchester, Litchfield and Putnam Counties since 1986.
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| Full Design Services |
Design Builders and Remodeling specializes in the design and building of additions, renovations, new home construction, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling and new kitchens.
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Greetings!
How do you remodel your home without having to actually remodel? Read our article about the exciting world of no leak skylights and sun tunnels and how you can help your home become more energy efficient.
Sincerely,
David H. Adams, President
Design Builders and Remodeling, Inc.
(203) 431-9104
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| Humorous Truths |
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"Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time."
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Let There Be Light!
The Facts about Skylights and Sun Tunnels |
Home owners can qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit for solar blinds. Coupled with energy savings, it's definitely an investment worth considering.
Design Builders & Remodeling, Inc., is proud to announce that we are one of a few companies in the area Certified to install Velux Products. This benefits our clients by giving them a 10-year installation warranty backed by Velux against leaking and 20 years against seal failure.
Velux offers some exciting opportunities and new products.
- The skylights block out 99% of the UV rays eliminating the concern for fading furniture throughout your home and clothing in your closets.
- Velux even offers automatic rain sensors to close the skylights in case of rain and offer an automatic opening feature on a timer that will allow you to let the heat out in the morning postponing the need for the use of your air conditioning.
- Solar blinds improve the energy efficiency of skylights. Blinds are available in black out and light diffusing materials and can be closed in the evenings to reduce heat loss substantially. They can be operated with a remote control.
- One of latest designs in natural lighting is the sun tunnel, or tubular skylight. The flexible design of the sun tunnel permits the unit to bend around attic obstructions to maximize sunlight. On the exterior, sun tunnels look like small domes and are the perfect unit for bathrooms, storage spaces and kitchens. Sun tunnels are easy to install and are being used by architects in "green" building projects. Sun tunnels take up a small area on the roof and minimize heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Their size also minimizes their impact on the architecture of a home.
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A sun tunnel adds light to an
otherwise dark kitchen. |
- A properly installed skylight can help minimize heating, Skylights and Sun Tunnels provide daylight and warmth to a home, especially in dark rooms with small or few windows. New designs now give homeowners a wide variety of options for adding natural light and ventilation. No leak skylights have now replaced the dripping units of the 1960s and the acrylic bubbles of the 1980s. Today's skylights have added layers of water protection and better flashing design. New glazes help to improve energy efficiency. Venting can be done at the touch of a button.
- Skylights and Sun Tunnels are also a great way to save money reducing your energy bill allowing natural light to enter your home so you do not have to turn on the lights during the day.
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When selecting a skylight for your home, work closely with your contractor to determine the best option. Do It Yourself.com advises consumers, "Even the most energy-efficient skylight must be properly installed to ensure that its energy performance is achieved. Therefore, it's best to have a professional install your skylight."
Please call us if you would like to explore replacing your existing skylights or if you would like to learn more about adding skylights or sun tunnels.
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| Kitchens With Personality |
Are you wanting to remodel your kitchen because your existing cabinetry no longer provides the storage or function you need? Or perhaps you want to update your kitchen with efficient appliances and fixtures to save on energy and water bills. Either way, you would also like your kitchen to be beautiful and feel inviting to your friends and family. This last aspect may feel very elusive, because you aren't sure how to pull it off. You want your kitchen to look fresh and original, but not to the extreme. How can you know when your kitchen design is too bland, or when it is too elaborate for current aesthetics?
Today's look is clean and simple, but definitely not cold and sterile. Perhaps you are like many other homeowners who are entertaining more at home these days, and you want spaces that feel welcoming. Soft matte finishes and artisan finishes, like bronze, copper, and brass give warmth to sinks and faucets. If your preference is for traditional style cabinetry, think minimal ornamentation and lots of white. Old World Tuscany features, such as high cathedral arches on cabinet doors and heavy corbels, are being traded for simpler elements like picture rail and painted bead board. Craftsman style cabinetry that emphasizes natural materials and honest craftsmanship, is currently the most popular look.
Clean and simple does not mean plain vanilla -- pay attention to the details that will give your kitchen personality. One idea is to vary the color of your cabinets in sections, mixing natural wood with paints or stains in delicious new colors, such as raspberry or grass green. Another possibility would be to juxtapose smooth and rough textures, matte and shiny finishes, or light and dark shades throughout your kitchen -- in your cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Cream and chocolate brown is a current favorite, but black and white never goes out of style. The layered glazes that were so popular a few years ago are being replaced by texture and depth, such as visual brushstrokes and surfaces with an aged look. Just remember to exercise restraint, allowing enough space for a dramatic item to shine, rather than compete for attention.
If you are concerned about the long term, and you want to make trendy choices only in areas that can be changed easily and inexpensively at a later date, try selecting just one focal point to emphasize in your kitchen. It might be a kitchen window with a stunning view, an island, or a unique ventilation hood. By highlighting that area with an unusual color, a contrasting finish, uncommon hardware, or special lighting, you can make a distinctive design statement without a big expenditure. Choose neutral finishes for the larger, more permanent items. |
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